“UFC Is Kind of Screwed” – Insider Points Out Dana White & Co.’s Dilemma in Relocating UFC 311 to Vegas

The beginning of 2025 wasn’t smooth for California, as the state faced five major fire outbreaks during the first week of the year. The fires, which started in the woods, quickly spread, burning entire neighborhoods and leaving widespread devastation. Over 5,000 homes have been lost, with more than 20 reported casualties and countless plants and animals destroyed.

While three fires have been contained, two others, Palisades and Eaton, continue to burn. The fires have also alerted the UFC as the first pay-per-view event of the year, UFC 311, is set to take place at the Intuit Dome in California. Although the venue is located 20 miles from the fires in downtown Los Angeles, holding the event amid such chaos is challenging.

Despite the ongoing concerns, UFC CEO Dana White remains resolute in his decision to hold the event in California. However, the promotion may have to take an alternate route if the situation escalates and this would prove to be cumbersome for the UFC head honcho. Recently, UFC veteran Paul Felder addressed this dilemma on the Believe You Me podcast, saying, “I think the issue is, the UFC does have T-Mobile available on Saturday, but as long as that arena says they still want it to go on, they’re not going to get any insurance money to be able to move it and pay for it.”

Felder also further highlighted the insurance challenge, noting that in the event of cancellation, the arena organizers would bear the full financial burden. “So I think they’re kind of in a weird spot, whereas if that arena is still trying to push forward and wants it to go on, the UFC is kind of screwed,” he added.

As of now, there have been no official updates from Dana White, the UFC, or the commission regarding the situation. The UFC CEO had previously stated that the UFC “will continue to work with state and local officials” to monitor the ongoing fire situation and decide whether to relocate the event to Sin City or keep it in Los Angeles. However, recent reports suggest that the situation is still far from containment. Let’s take a look at the latest update on the Southern California crisis.

Latest Update: LA fire uncontrollable due to strong winds – can UFC 311 escape it?

UFC 311 is slated to go down in less than a week’s time. Initially, the fire situation in various parts of Southern California seemed to be under control. However, the National Weather Service has now issued its highest-level warning, with the potential to impact areas of Los Angeles. The return of strong Santa Ana winds threatens to undo the progress made by firefighters.

The winds are forecasted to reach speeds of 45 to 70 mph, peaking in the next two days—critical for the state and local authorities. These winds bring not just powerful gusts but also dangerously low humidity, contributing to an already precarious dry condition that the weather service has classified as “particularly dangerous.” As a result, authorities are urging residents to stay alert, and firefighters from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are on standby.

With UFC 311 just five days away, all eyes are on the UFC boss, Dana White. The burning question remains: Will the Santa Ana winds worsen the situation, and will UFC head honcho adhere to his statement, “If the fire gets bad, we are coming to Vegas”? Given that more than 30,000 people have been displaced and many are now homeless, do you think holding the event in Los Angeles is a good idea—especially if the fire is contained? Share your thoughts below.